Computer mouse for video game

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a computer mouse for video game comprising a housing ( 31 ), first and second action knobs ( 42, 43 ), characterized in that it comprises a dummy firing weapon ( 39 ) mounted on the housing ( 31 ) and maneuvered by a video game player and in that the first action knob ( 42 ) is located on the firing weapon, at the site where is located the player&#39;s forefinger, and the second action knob is located on the firing weapon, at the site where is located the player&#39;s thumb. The invention is applicable in the field of video game.

The invention relates to a computer mouse for video games and, inparticular, for shooting games with a firing weapon such as a gun. Thiscomputer mouse is topped by a dummy firing weapon, integrating theaction buttons.

The invention finds application in the domain of video games, and inparticular, in video games on a personal computer or on a games console.

PRIOR ART

Currently, in the domain of video games, numerous types of gameperipherals exist. For example, there are paddles, joysticks or evencomputer mice. Each of these game peripherals is adapted to one or moretypes of games. Among these types of games, there are shooting games, inwhich the player plays the role of a person with a weapon firing on thecharacters or objects scrolling past on the video game display device,that is, on the computer screen or television screen to which the gamesconsole is connected. Currently, the shooting, that is, the simulationof the shooting action, is performed by means of a computer mouse. Theshooting and rearming actions are done by clicking on one or the otherof the action buttons of the computer mouse, also called the mousebuttons.

However, the position of the player's hand on the computer mouse hasnothing in common with the position of a hand on a firing weapon such asa gun. In fact, with a computer mouse, the player places his hand flaton the mouse, uses the scroll wheel to choose the different options inthe video game and clicks, with his index and middle fingers, on theleft and right action buttons of the mouse to implement the shooting andrearming functions. On the contrary, when he holds an individual firingweapon, such as a gun, the player has his hand closed around the grip ofthe weapon with the index finger on the trigger and the thumb on theretainer of the weapon magazine. The position of the player's hand andthe movements of the player's fingers are thus totally different when hehandles a computer mouse and when he holds a weapon.

Such being the case, one of the goals of video games is to allow theplayer to be an actor in the game scenario. In particular, in shootinggames, the player must be able to take the place of the shooter. Suchbeing the case, the act of manipulating a computer mouse instead of afiring weapon takes away a large part of the player's involvement in thegame scenario.

The computer mouse only allows the moment of the shooting to besimulated. The mouse does not allow the holding of the weapon as well asthe total command of the shooting, that is, the action of the player'sfingers on the weapon at the moment of shooting, the moment of shootingand the mechanical movements of the weapon at the moment of shooting tobe simulated.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is precisely to allow a simulation in theholding of the weapon as well as a simulation of the total command of ashooting in a video game, the simulation is done as well in the shootingcommand as in the mechanical movements of the weapon. To do this, theinvention proposes a computer mouse topped by a dummy firing weapon, inwhich the shooting and rearming functions are performed from the triggerand retainer of the weapon.

More precisely, the invention relates to a computer mouse for videogames, comprising a housing, a first and second action button,characterized in that the mouse comprises a dummy firing weapon toppingthe housing and manipulated by a video game player and in that the firstaction button is situated on the weapon, at the location where theplayer's index finger is placed, and the second action button issituated on the weapon, at the location where the player's thumb isplaced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 schematically represents the computer mouse of the inventionfacing a video game display screen.

FIG. 2 represents an exploded [sic] view of a computer mouse accordingto the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a computer mouse used as a game peripheralduring the execution of a video game on a personal computer or a gamesconsole connected to a television screen. It is to be noted that, in thecase of a computer, the mouse of the invention may also be used as aconventional mouse for software other than video games.

FIG. 1 represents a computer mouse according to the invention, facing atelevision screen 1 connected by a wire connection 5 to a games console2 that executes a shooting video game. In this FIG. 1, the computermouse 3 is connected to the games console 2 by a connection wire 4. Thewire connection of the computer mouse to the games console (or to acomputer) is not the only possible connection method. In fact, as withconventional computer mice, the mouse 3 of the invention may be awireless mouse connected to the console 2 (or to a computer) by radio orinfrared means. The mouse may also be a mouse operating by detection ofthe hand moving in space due to motion sensors.

The computer mouse of the invention comprises a housing 31 roughlyhaving the shape of a conventional computer mouse. The housing 31 istopped by a dummy firing weapon 39. This dummy weapon may be anyindividual firing or laser ray weapon. This may be, for example, a gunor any type of handgun such as a revolver or a submachine gun. Thisfiring weapon 39 may be a replica of a weapon that exists or used toexist. The weapon may also be a model of a fantasy weapon, such as aweapon created for a cinematographic film or a weapon specificallycreated for video games.

In FIG. 2 is represented the mouse of the invention with the housing 31and the dummy firing weapon 39. As with a conventional weapon, the dummyfiring weapon 39 of the mouse of the invention comprises a cannon 41, agrip 40 around which the player places his hand, a trigger guard 45 inwhich the player introduces his index finger and a trigger 42, that ismobile inside the trigger guard 45. This trigger 42 allows the weaponshot to be triggered. As with a conventional weapon, the firing weapon39 also comprises a magazine retainer 43 situated on the side of thegrip 40. Usually, this retainer 43 allows the weapon to be reloaded bycartridge. It is activated with the thumb of the player.

In the mouse of the invention, the player places his hand around thegrip 40, with the thumb near the retainer 43 and the index fingeragainst the trigger 42. In the invention, the trigger 42 comprises afirst action button for the mouse; the retainer 43 comprises a secondaction button for the mouse. In other words, in the invention, thetrigger 42 allows the functions that are generally implemented by theleft action button of a conventional mouse to be implemented. Theretainer 43 allows the functions that are generally implemented by theright action button of a conventional mouse to be implemented. Forexample, the trigger has the role of simulating the shooting in a videogame when it is activated, and the retainer 43 has the role ofsimulating the cartridge reloading function of the weapon when it isactivated. In this example, the role of the trigger and the role of theretainer of the mouse of the invention are roughly identical to the roleof a trigger and a retainer in a real weapon except that, in theinvention, the weapon is fake. The player thus has the impression thathe is really firing with a weapon.

However, the trigger 42 and the retainer 43 of the dummy weapon 39 mayallow any functionality that is generally activated from one of theaction buttons of a conventional mouse to be activated.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the hammer 44 of the dummyweapon 39, situated behind the weapon breech, allows a third function tobe activated, which will be described later.

In FIG. 3 is represented the mouse of the invention in an exploded view.Thus one can see the housing 31 that comprises a baseplate 32 formingthe housing base of the mouse of the invention. This housing 31 alsocomprises an upper shell 36 designed to fit into the baseplate 32. Thisshell 36 has a rounded shape that roughly follows the shape of the palmof a hand. The baseplate 32 and the shell 36 have complementary shapesthat allow them to fit one into the other, as with a conventional mouse.

Inside the housing 31, a printed circuit 34 allows the usual functionsof a computer mouse to be performed. A scroll wheel 35 may be insertedinto an orifice made for this purpose in the printed circuit 34. Theprinted circuit 34, like the scroll wheel 35, are identical to theprinted circuits and scroll wheels of mice that are conventionally foundin business.

In the case where the printed circuit 34 comprises a scroll wheel 35,the upper shell 36 of the housing 31 comprises an orifice allowing thepassage of a part of this scroll wheel.

The scroll wheel 35 generally has two functions: a first functionimplemented by causing the wheel to turn and a second functionimplemented by pushing on the wheel. The first function allows differentchoices or options that are opened to the player to be caused to scrollon the television screen or computer screen. The second function allowsthe chosen option to be selected.

In an embodiment of the invention, the shell 36 of the housing 31comprises means for fixing the dummy weapon 39 on said housing. As shownin FIG. 3, these fixation means may be an indentation 36′ achieved onthe upper side of the shell 36 in which the grip 40 of the weapon fitsinto and is possibly glued. The fixation means may also be a screw/nutsystem crossing the shell and the grip for fixing them to each other orrather a lug and mortise system allowing the grip to be fitted into theshell. The fixation means may also be a combination of these differentmeans.

In another embodiment, the dummy weapon may be molded with the shell 36of the housing 31.

In the embodiment represented in FIG. 3, the mouse is a ball mouse, thatis, in which the directional sensor is a ball. This ball is referenced33. In another embodiment, the mouse may be an optical mouse, that is,in which the directional sensor is an optical type sensor.

In the invention, an interrupter 46 b is placed inside the weapon nearthe trigger 42 of the dummy weapon 39. This interrupter 46 b isconnected by an electric connection wire 38 to an electric contact zone46 a situated on the printed circuit 34 of the mouse. This contact zoneis situated at the site of the interrupter of the left action button ofa conventional mouse. The trigger 42, interrupter 46 b and contact zone46 a together comprise the first action button of the mouse of theinvention.

Thus, during a video game, when the player wants to shoot on a target,he activates the trigger 42 by pulling it toward the grip of the weapon.The part of the trigger situated inside the weapon, and represented indots in FIG. 3, is then displaced toward the interrupter 46 b. Bytouching it, the trigger activates the interrupter 46 b that sends, bythe wire 38, an electric pulse to the contact zone 46 a. The electricpulse is then transmitted to the printed circuit in the same way as witha conventional mouse.

Identically, a second interrupter 48 b is placed inside the weapon nearthe retainer 43 of the dummy weapon 39. This second interrupter 48 b isconnected, by an electric connection wire 49, to a second electriccontact zone 48 a situated on the printed circuit 34 of the mouse. Thiscontact zone is situated at the site of the interrupter of the rightaction button of a conventional mouse. The retainer 43, secondinterrupter 48 b and second contact zone 48 a together comprise thesecond action button of the mouse of the invention.

As with the trigger 42, when the player wants to reload his weapon bycartridge, he pushes on the retainer, which displaces the part of theretainer situated inside the weapon. By displacing it, the retaineractivates the second interrupter that sends an electric pulse to thesecond contact zone on the printed circuit.

In the embodiment of the invention represented in FIG. 3, the hammer 44of the dummy weapon 39 is used to activate a third function of themouse. This third function corresponds to the function of pushing on thescroll wheel of a conventional mouse. As explained previously, thescroll wheel 35 has a first scroll function and a second function ofselecting one of the scrolling options. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, athird interrupter 47 b is placed inside the weapon near the hammer 44 ofthe dummy weapon 39. This interrupter 47 b is connected by an electricconnecting wire 37 to an electric contact zone 47 a situated on theprinted circuit 34 of the mouse. This contact zone 47 a is situated atthe site of the interrupter of the scroll wheel of a conventional mouse.The hammer 44, interrupter 47 b and contact zone 47 a together comprisethe third action button of the mouse of the invention.

As with the trigger 42 and the retainer 43, when the player pushes onthe hammer, that is, when he pushes the hammer toward the housing, thisdisplaces the part of the hammer situated inside the weapon, representedin dots in FIG. 3. By displacing it, the hammer 44 activates theinterrupter 47 b that sends, by the wire 37, an electric pulse towardthe contact zone 47 a. The electric pulse is then transmitted, by thezone 47 a, to the printed circuit 34 in the same way as in aconventional mouse.

In a variation of the invention, the hammer may have a moresophisticated function with an interrupter at 4 positions (front, back,left and right) or even at 8 positions or a mini-joystick in order thatthe player may control certain displacements in the game with thehammer, like the displacement of a game character. In the case where thehammer has the function of a mini-joystick, the third action buttoncomprises a potentiometer instead of an interrupter. In this case, thepart of the hammer situated inside the weapon is mechanically connectedto the cursor of the potentiometer. Thus, when the player pushes on thehammer, this displaces the cursor of the potentiometer that sends anelectrical signal to the contact zone 47 a.

For each of these action buttons described previously, the player, bypushing on an element of the dummy weapon, creates a movement of thiselement. This element, by touching the near interrupter, has amechanical effect and this mechanical effect leads to an electriccommand.

To allow the housing to be comfortable in the position of the player'shand, the housing of the mouse preferably is in a shape that issufficiently large so as to support the side of the hand of the playerwhen he takes the weapon.

In a variation of the invention, a retainer button of the magazine maybe implanted in each side of the dummy weapon to ensure a comfortableutilization for both right-handed and left-handed players. In otherwords, a first retainer may be placed on the left side of the weapon soas to be under the thumb of right-handed players and a second retainermay be placed on the right side of the weapon so as to be under thethumb of the left-handed players.

With these three action buttons, the computer mouse of the inventionclosely simulates the reality of shooting movements, facing the gamedisplay screen. Furthermore, it is to be noted that the shootingelements (trigger, retainer and hammer) of the dummy weapon retain thesame characteristics of a real weapon, that is, an identical movementand noise.

In an embodiment of the invention, the computer mouse is equipped with amechanism, run by an electric motor, ensuring the movement of the breechwhen the player pushes on the trigger, thus simulating the movement ofthe breech of a real semi-automatic pistol or a real submachine gun andalso simulating the vibrations.

In this way, a player who takes the computer mouse of the invention inhand has the impression of holding a weapon and not of holding acomputer mouse.

In a variation of the invention, the dummy weapon 39 emits a laser beamin the direction of the display screen with each shot.

1. A computer mouse for video games, comprising, a housing, and a first and a second action buttons; a dummy firing weapon fixed above the housing adapted for and manipulation by a video game player, and the first action button oriented on the weapon, at the location where the player's index finger is placed, and a second action button oriented on the weapon, at the location where the player's thumb is placed.
 2. The computer mouse according to claim 1, the first action button comprising a weapon trigger.
 3. The computer mouse according to claim 1, the second action button comprising a magazine retainer for the weapon.
 4. The computer mouse according to claim 2, the first action button comprising an interrupter placed near the weapon trigger.
 5. The computer mouse according to claim 3, the second action button comprising an interrupter placed near the weapon retainer.
 6. The computer mouse according to claim 1, the mouse comprising a third action button comprising the weapon hammer.
 7. The computer mouse according to claim 6, the third action button comprising an interrupter placed near the weapon hammer.
 8. The computer mouse according to claim 6, the third action button comprising a potentiometer placed near the weapon hammer.
 9. The computer mouse according to claim 1, the weapon emits adapted for emitting a laser beam in the direction of a video game display device. 